Synonym Chooser

How does the verb actuate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of actuate are drive, impel, and move. While all these words mean "to set or keep in motion," actuate stresses transmission of power so as to work or set in motion.

turbines actuated by waterpower

When could drive be used to replace actuate?

The synonyms drive and actuate are sometimes interchangeable, but drive implies imparting forward and continuous motion and often stresses the effect rather than the impetus.

a ship driven aground by hurricane winds

Where would impel be a reasonable alternative to actuate?

The words impel and actuate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, impel is usually figurative and suggests a great motivating impetus.

a candidate impelled by ambition

When is it sensible to use move instead of actuate?

In some situations, the words move and actuate are roughly equivalent. However, move is very general and implies no more than the fact of changing position.

moved the furniture

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of actuate To enable more precise adjustments, the bike has twin throttle bodies with each pair of cylinders actuated independently. New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2024 When Lange released a chronograph variation in 2023, these pushers were repurposed to actuate the timing functions. Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 13 Sep. 2024 And a story was planted that Nazi Germany actuated the Katyn Massacre in 1940. Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 25 Feb. 2024 The two chambers of the soft, pneumatic finger are actuated manually, using two large syringes filled with air. IEEE Spectrum, 18 Feb. 2022 See All Example Sentences for actuate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for actuate
Verb
  • At the same time, Mercury and Mars are activating your sector of expansion, meaning your inner philosopher is loud.
    Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 5 Oct. 2025
  • There was no official announcement from Washington that the California National Guard was being called up and sent to Oregon, just as was the case when Illinois’ governor made a similar announcement Saturday about troops in his state being activated.
    Danny Bakst, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In a positive sign, Nunoo was moving his hands and fingers, according to Sutton.
    Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2025
  • That includes other immigrants who continue to buy homes to move into or to invest in, even some without legal immigration status.
    Juan Cordoba, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Solar storms—giant bursts of energy from the Sun that disturb the Earth’s magnetic field—may play a role in triggering heart attacks, particularly in women, a new study has found.
    Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
  • To trigger this effect, the researchers used nanoscale slots in a thin layer of gold, each about a thousand times thinner than a sheet of cling wrap.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • While OpenAI says that scaling is key to driving innovation and future AI breakthroughs, investors and analysts are beginning to raise their eyebrows over the mindboggling sums.
    Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2025
  • And entertainment, in my opinion, drives fashion culture.
    Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • TikToker and books commentator Kenzie Deerin, who was introduced to the series in middle school, says the vampiric tale sparked her love for the fantasy romance genre.
    Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
  • The health care reforms in the One Big Beautiful Bill have sparked anxiety in some parts of the state that rely heavily on Medicaid.
    Ronald J. Hansen, AZCentral.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The best-of-five series between the teams could very well be a low scoring series that sees defense and bullpens rise to the occasion to propel one side to the NLCS.
    Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
  • But, to do you any good, squeezing the veins must propel the blood in the right direction, toward the heart.
    Bryant Stamford, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • And the media dollars and sponsorship money that power the growth of the sport depends on those fans.
    Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
  • And technology will always power the cars.
    Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Single-minded and fairly humorless, Chappellet is impelled but seldom impulsive.
    Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2025
  • While the recent protests were sparked by the social media ban, protesters said that they had been impelled by years of government corruption and failure to provide young people with economic opportunities.
    Alia Shoaib, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Actuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actuate. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on actuate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!